Final word from outgoing Tiger Brett Sinclair

April 9, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Jeff Doner

We continue our series of Q and A’s with some of the Aurora Tigers Junior A players who are moving on to the next step in their hockey and academic careers – this week is goalie star Brett Sinclair.
Brett is moving on to Curry University in Massachusetts after two solid seasons in net for the Tigers. Good luck, Brett!

Born: St. Catherines
Age/birthday: May 21, 1993 (19)
Seasons with Tigers: 2

Position: Goalie

Past hockey career: Junior B St. Catherines Falcons

Season Stats with Tigers: GP 28 – W 13 – GAA 2.72 – SV% 0.920

Best memory playing with Tigers: “Last year (spring 2012) we played Orangeville in the playoffs and we went to double overtime and we won and it was just crazy. It was a lot of fun.”

What’s on tap for next season: Curry College in Massachusetts to play hockey and taking business management.

Why this school? “There were a couple other schools, but I chose Curry because they offered me the best package and I’d be able to play my first year and try to be a starter for a division-three school. It was a lot different with other schools that already had a bona-fide starter so I’d be battling for second. But with Curry College, the coach basically told me I’d be stepping in as a 1-1A pairing. That’s why I chose it.”

Are you looking forward to being in US? “I can’t wait to be living down in Boston. I’m going to be living with Justin Nice [teammate from Tigers] who’s on the team. So it should be pretty fun. I want to watch some Bruins, Red Sox and Patriots games while I’m down there. Four years of my life in Boston doesn’t sound too shabby.”

Hobbies: “In the summer I play golf and then I’m pretty big into music. I played a lot of instruments growing up. I played piano until about age 12, picked up saxophone and a bunch of other instruments.”

Any other sports? “I did play baseball. I went to the Ontario Summer Games for it a couple years ago, but since then I haven’t really played.”

Favourite movie: Superbad

Favourite sports movie: “Miracle, even though it’s American.”

On your ipod: “I have a very eclectic music taste. I’ve got a lot of hip-hop, R & B, rock, country, anything. One of my favourites? Kanye West.”

Favourite hockey team and why? “Buffalo Sabres. I live pretty close to Buffalo, it’s only about a 30 minute drive. We had season tickets since I was 10 or so, so my dad and I used to go. I love Buffalo.”

Who will win the Stanley Cup this year? “Pittsburgh. When Crosby comes back I don’t see them losing a game. They have four solid lines.”

Favourite NHL player: “I liked Hasek obviously and I really like Miller.”

Which super hero would you want to be, why? “Probably Batman, because he gets to drive all those fancy looking vehicles and nobody really knows who he really is deep down.”

Who is your hero/idol/role model? “Probably my parents. They’ve basically taught me everything. My dad was a really hard worker when he was young and didn’t have a lot of money and now he’s a dentist so, it’s just perseverance. That’s what he’s taught me.”

Best thing about playing for the Tigers: “Camaraderie with the boys. I’ve been on teams before where there’s a lot of individuals and they don’t really come together as a team, but with me moving away from home and billeting with Dylan Sikura I got to meet a bunch of people in the city and got to become friends with a lot of the guys on the team. The coaching staff was great too.”

What type of goalie are you, what are you known for or who do you compare yourself to? “Maybe Jonas Enroth from the Sabres. He’s a smaller goalie, but he’s quick.”

Best accomplishment on and off the ice: “Representing Canada in Finland in 2011. I got to be a part of the Team Canada Three Nations Cup. JR was the coach of that and Lisi was on the team. Off the ice, probably getting into Curry. I graduated high school with an 85 per cent average, so I am pretty pleased with that.”

What is the biggest hurdle you have had to overcome in your life or hockey career? “I don’t really think I’ve had big hurdles to overcome, but when I was younger I went from house league to triple A and basically all the guys that were trying out for the team and their parents were pretty shocked and wanted me kicked off the team because I didn’t play triple A before.”

What are you going to do with your summer before school starts? “I’m going to visit Curry. Probably just be working out, golfing, training and maybe have a party or two.”

If you had a slogan or motto, what would it be? “I like ‘veni, vidi, vici,’ it’s Julius Caesar, ‘I came, I saw, I conquered’.”

Are you superstitious? “Yeah…I’m pretty superstitious before games. I have a long routine I go through with what I eat, what time I go to bed at, how long my naps are before games. In the dressing room I visualize a lot. I’m pretty superstitious, I guess. I usually grab a chicken parm and pasta before a game, I have a nap for 35 minutes before a game. Usually I don’t talk to people before games. I don’t want to talk to anyone or see anyone before a game. I’m just in my zone.”

Who is the funniest teammate you have had and why? “Probably Taylor McCloy, he’s hilarious. He just says and does funny things that you just shake your head at. Taylor is great.”

You and goalie partner Entmaa were a good tandem, what was that like? “He was a great goalie partner. He’s the only goalie partner that I’ve liked, really. He’s going to do well next year.”

What’s your stance on the possibility of making goalie equipment smaller in the NHL? “Maybe some of the equipment could be more fitted. I know they are talking about the landing pad on the knee, but if they limit that, that’s pretty important padding because a lot of goalies have knee problems and hip problems. The reason why those knee guards are there is to prevent that. I think it could inhibit the game instead of creating more goals. Certain goalies could definitely wear more fitted protection. Some of the goalies are huge and it’s a little excessive.”

If you were GM for Team Canada, what three NHL goalies would you take to the Olympics next year and why for each? “Carey Price [Montreal Canadiens] definitely. Probably Marc-Andre Fleury [Pittsburgh Penguins], he has won a cup and plays on a great team, but he’s good. As a third, maybe Martin Brodeur [New Jersey Devils] if he’s not retired.”

Coach’s comment [James Richmond]: “Brett just finished his second season with the Tigers where he posted a save percentage that put him in the top ten in the OJHL. Brett came to us from St.Catherines and has been a steady backstop for the Tigers for the last two seasons. He will move on this fall to Curry College where he will get the opportunity to play goalie in the NCAA. The Tiger Family wishes Brett success at the next level and would like to thank him for his commitment to the Tigers and to the Town of Aurora.”